Has anyone ever made a short throw / ratchet shifter for the 5 speed manual a 4 cyl second gen Tracker/Vitara has?

One of the things I'm least fond of about my Tracker is the long, soft, squishy shifting.  Having some experience with a Ranger with an amazingly notchy shifter, a Miata, and my buddy's TJ with a hurst short throw setup I really feel like I'm stirring spaghetti or something.

It would be interesting to see what comes out of this - the shift lever goes in to an extension, so it's theoretically possible to "re-do" the top of the extension, making it taller, so that it could accomodate a shift lever with a higher pivot point.

My concern as such, is that even with the stock shifter, the transmission apparently does not like to be "hustled" and will click & crunch on a fast shift, I don't know if it's just my transmission or if all of them are like this, but if they are, a short shifter will just make it worse.

that is a good thought, you could machine a complete insert, that fits into the existing shifter tower, made out of aluminum that raises the pivot point. use the existing pivot bolt holes to retain the extension. Cut and weld in an extension on the lower portion of the shift itself.

A big project

I found no issues with shifting, even quickly, after installing a "G"-string. Really tightens up the shift feel.

You can see in this picture that the cup for the shifters end ball had been forced over the end ball because the shift sheet and retaining collar were shot. Tons of slop when I bought my Sidekick, but knew the "G"string would cure that problem and now really enjoy the shifter feel.

Just something to check and may help your shifter.

 

Hrmmm, definitely don't want a LONGER shifter.  Loved how my Ranger required quick, short throws to change gears.  The Miata was similar.  My buddy's Hurst setup in his TJ is also similar.  Right now, to me, it feels like shifting gears takes too long between the gears.  Also if you don't have it perfectly lined up it may not work correctly and that's not awesome.

Where exactly does the shifter sheet go in that picture?

The shifter sheet replacement, the "G"string, is installed in that picture, you can just make out the yellowish ring colored thing in the shifter tower it is what the big ball portion of the shifter sits and rides in-on.

Any idea if the transmissions or the related parts for the shifter changed between the 1st gen and the 2nd gen?

I believe there are differences in the transmissions, but the shifters are similar and the shifter sheet is the same part number in both generations - I checked it after seeing talonxracer's post about the G string - I found myself wondering if there was a reason Suzuki used plastic rather than brass.

Incidentally - although the modification described mentions an extension, because the extension is below the pivot ball, it actually reduces the movement at the top end of the shift lever.

My money's on cheapness.


Sweet!  Ordering one in a few weeks after my vacation.

Any idea if the transfer case uses the same shifter sheet?  ZOR offers the "Garter" for that.

I can check in the morning, but I would suspect not - looking at the pictures of the garter & g string they appear to be different.

Sorry, I mean transfer cases between generations?  Would the Garter fit the original body style transfer case and also whatever transfer case I have now...if it's not the same one.

The transfer cases are the same as far as I know.

I don't know how much your trans will like being shifted quicker.  Mine is like a shifting a small truck transmission, however, after over 100K miles, it's still tight, no slop, and shifts nice, I just take my time with it.

I think AJM is just looking for a little crisper feel in the shifter and less play and hunt and search for the gears when shifting.

A new/low mileage trans shifts rather nicely, Fixing the wear points on a higher mileage shifter will bring it back to a decent feel on the shifter. You can still have transmission internals that are worn like shift dogs, synchros, bearings and gear faces that can affect the shift quality as well.